Pink Panther Casting

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Bootylicious babe and The Professional join MGM's redo.

By Brian Linder

Two new cast members have joined MGM's forthcoming remake of The Pink Panther, which stars Steve Martin as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. According to today's Variety, the studio is in final talks with singer-turned-actress Beyonce Knowles (Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Fighting Temptations) and French actor Jean Reno (Ronin, The Professional). Beyonce would reportedly play "the chief suspect in a diamond heist," and Reno would portray Inspector Clouseau's traveling companion.

The trade explains that Knowles's character, Xania, is a pop star whose mysteriously deceased boyfriend recently owned the fabled Pink Panther diamond. Reno's Ponton is Clouseau's driver who is actually an undercover cop assigned to keep an eye on Clouseau.

Len Blum (Private Parts, Stripes) wrote the script for the film which was recently polished by Martin. Shawn Levy (Cheaper by the Dozen, Just Married) is directing.

Last we heard, The Pink Panther is tentatively scheduled for a July 22, 2005 release. MGM hopes to launch a franchise with the film.